Trump’s EPA decided climate change doesn’t endanger public health. Evidence says otherwise.

February 17, 2026 - 16:19

A wealth of scientific evidence continues to mount, demonstrating that climate change is a direct and escalating threat to public health. This conclusion stands in stark contrast to past regulatory assessments which downplayed the dangers.

Experts point to a clear chain of consequences driven by a warming planet. Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense, leading to a rise in heatstroke, cardiovascular stress, and excess mortality, particularly among the elderly and vulnerable populations. These heatwaves also worsen air quality by increasing ground-level ozone, exacerbating respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis.

Furthermore, climate change is amplifying the severity and range of severe weather events, including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. These disasters cause immediate physical injury and loss of life, while also creating long-term health crises through water contamination, mental health trauma, and the displacement of communities.

The public health burden is also linked to the spread of infectious diseases, as changing temperatures allow vectors like mosquitoes and ticks to expand into new regions. From degraded air quality to mental health impacts and food system disruptions, the medical and scientific communities overwhelmingly agree that climate action is fundamentally an investment in public health and safety.